2012 Ancient Peaks Race 1

The second ever race at the Ancient Peaks venue has come and gone. Riders last year had a hard time through the Rack garden that was built so they adjusted that some on the Pro and Expert line. The downhill course otherwise was pretty similiar. They also added a Dual Slalom course for this event and they had a number of entrants for it.

The downhill is loaded with a high-speed fireroad start that shoots riders left into the trees. Once into the trees riders hit berms and drops ranging from 3-4 feet. SOme of the corners are bermed while others are off camber. There was very little rain so the upper section was very loose and made it hard on some riders to carry speed through the off camber tunrs for sure.

Once you get through the turns you enter the high-speed berm section where riders can bury their suspension and be launched out towards the triple that gives riders the option of doubling if they cannot make the 35 or so foot leep.

After that riders are shot back into the woods and off a ladder drop and speed once again picks up with wide open corners then the tight s-turns come up to slow riders down. The trail gets progressivly steeper and has two sharp turns at two points here. Once through this you cross an open section and a wood bridge over a small stream.

The next section has two route the Pro/Expert line is through the Rock garden while Beginner/Sport go around. After exiting the rocks you have a G-Out into and uphill that fades right amny riders had problems here. Afte this is speeds up winding riders through the trees and across the finishline.

Dual Slalom riders had a cours that was filled with deep berms and flowy jumps. Turnout was lower than expected for this and some people entered with downhill bikes just to ride it. They spent a number of months building it and hope to have better turnout next time around for the Dual race.

Overall the course was pretty smooth there were a few sections with a little chop in them. Some riders that had two bikes to choose from went for the ones with suspension over the hardtails. MikeyHaderer ended up beating out Kyle Hogan in the final for the Slalom race.

Due to a lack of rain the race scheduled for July has been push back until winter. At this point no definate date has been loacked down but we will post it as soon as we hear something! The riders that came out thanks for your support and we hope you had a good time riding the trails Nate and his crew have spent so many hours working on.

2012 Ancient Peaks MTB Classic Images

2012 Ancient Peaks Results

   Plc   Bib Athlete                Age   Time        Plc/Tot-----Division-------  
 ===== ===== =====================  ===   =========== ===========
     1    29 Kyle Hogar             27    0:02:34.56  1/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
     2   108 Mike English           28    0:02:41.10  1/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
     3   123 Jeff Kendall-Weed      27    0:02:47.90  2/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
     4    13 Kevin Pabinquit        27    0:02:48.39  3/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
     5   125 Jeff Bowers            27    0:02:49.21  2/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
     6   167 Dean Abrams            37    0:02:49.29  4/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
     7   151 Owen Raybould          24    0:02:50.09  3/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
     8   162 David Digeronimo       32    0:02:50.94  5/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
     9   157 Kyle Blew              23    0:02:51.32  4/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    10    76 Mikey Haderer          26    0:02:53.86  6/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    11   140 Daniel Brisbon         27    0:02:57.02  7/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    12     8 Vance Bennett          20    0:03:00.15  5/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    13   107 Chris Cowan            33    0:03:01.17  6/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    14   105 Nate Furbee            19    0:03:01.77  8/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    15   154 Preston Moore          25    0:03:02.84  9/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    16   146 Ryan Cerf              24    0:03:03.02  7/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    17    40 Tyler Matejcek         27    0:03:03.36  1/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    18   155 Ryan Quinn             21    0:03:03.83 10/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    19   150 Josef Duller           24    0:03:04.41  8/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    20    39 Andrew Soto            23    0:03:06.16  2/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    21   144 Dan Troyan             23    0:03:08.05  9/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    22    51 Will King              29    0:03:09.69 10/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    23   160 Tyler Kaplan           21    0:03:10.15 11/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    24    98 Nik Nestoroff           0    0:03:11.06                                     
    25    21 Thomas  Phelan         13    0:03:11.08  1/3  BEGINNER_MEN_JUNIOR 13-18     
    26    28 Vahe Aivazian          44    0:03:13.62  1/2  EXPERT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44      
    27    16 Michael Hoeke          27    0:03:14.78 12/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    28   166 Ryan Bush              24    0:03:15.35  3/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    29    20 Gus Phelan             17    0:03:16.29  2/3  BEGINNER_MEN_JUNIOR 13-18     
    30    59 Jacob Federspiel       27    0:03:16.94 13/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    31    55 Brandon Kowalski       27    0:03:17.52  4/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    32   159 Bryan Humberg          24    0:03:18.58 14/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    33   138 Braedon Freeland       28    0:03:20.96 11/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    34   137 Scott Snider           28    0:03:21.11  1/6  BEGINNER_MEN_SENIOR 19-34     
    35    66 Dan Miller             21    0:03:21.26  5/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    36    30 Jeff Nicol             20    0:03:23.01  6/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    37   888 Paul Wintermute        39    0:03:24.38  1/6  SPORT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44       
    38    52 Kyle Kinne             16    0:03:24.61  1/4  SQUIRTS 18/UNDER              
    39   153 Dan Haeger             26    0:03:25.14 12/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    40    42 David Miller           22    0:03:26.10 15/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    41   104 Cory Maxwell           27    0:03:26.65  7/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    42   165 Matthew Guise          25    0:03:27.01 16/16 EXPERT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34       
    43   114 Brian Nestoroff        45    0:03:28.72  1/1  EXPERT_MEN_MASTER 45+         
    44   134 Ryan Durazo            16    0:03:33.90  2/4  SQUIRTS 18/UNDER              
    45   133 Matt Gomez             16    0:03:37.50  3/4  SQUIRTS 18/UNDER              
    46   158 Aaron Murano           25    0:03:39.06  2/6  BEGINNER_MEN_SENIOR 19-34     
    47    62 Scott Burns            40    0:03:40.06  2/6  SPORT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44       
    48   148 Ryan Cleek             36    0:03:40.07  2/2  EXPERT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44      
    49   102 Lyle Bergerson         36    0:03:41.42  1/5  BEGINNER_MEN_VETERAN 35-44    
    50   142 Brad Cristea           44    0:03:41.79  3/6  SPORT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44       
    51    11 Jake Mallory           27    0:03:42.93  8/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    52   111 Eli Coplen             40    0:03:43.91  4/6  SPORT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44       
    53   152 Bryan Worth            24    0:03:44.33 13/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    54   132 Jeremy Donk            15    0:03:44.51  4/4  SQUIRTS 18/UNDER              
    55   110 Tony Elkin             50    0:03:48.64  1/3  SPORT_MEN_MASTER 45+          
    56     2 Kevin Kaizuka          45    0:03:50.91  2/3  SPORT_MEN_MASTER 45+          
    57     1 Josh Machado           40    0:03:54.02  2/5  BEGINNER_MEN_VETERAN 35-44    
    58   143 Heather McFadden       26    0:03:54.39 14/14 PRO_MEN 13+                   
    59   141 Spencer Kibbe          16    0:03:57.58  3/3  BEGINNER_MEN_JUNIOR 13-18     
    60   161 Jim Aaron              56    0:04:00.70  3/3  SPORT_MEN_MASTER 45+          
    61   126 Jeff Owen              32    0:04:07.17  3/6  BEGINNER_MEN_SENIOR 19-34     
    62   156 Connor O'Dowd          21    0:04:09.92  9/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    63     5 Brandon Kato           39    0:04:10.81  3/5  BEGINNER_MEN_VETERAN 35-44    
    64     4 David Hamilton         40    0:04:13.41  5/6  SPORT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44       
    65    54 Kimberly Engelhart     28F   0:04:20.23  1/3  SPORT_WOMEN_SENIOR 19-34      
    66   109 Stephen Greene         22    0:04:21.27 10/10 SPORT_MEN_SENIOR 19-34        
    67    23 Adam Coleman           27    0:04:21.86  4/6  BEGINNER_MEN_SENIOR 19-34     
    68   163 Matt Mahoney           23    0:04:33.56  5/6  BEGINNER_MEN_SENIOR 19-34     
    69   147 Erik MacPherson        38    0:04:43.52  6/6  SPORT_MEN_VETERAN 35-44       
    70    53 Jon Kinne              41    0:04:53.19  4/5  BEGINNER_MEN_VETERAN 35-44    
    71     6 Rachel Carscaden       30F   0:04:54.08  2/3  SPORT_WOMEN_SENIOR 19-34      
    72   116 Christina Lee          27F   0:05:43.12  3/3  SPORT_WOMEN_SENIOR 19-34      
    73    41 Aaron Aquino           40    0:06:06.33  5/5  BEGINNER_MEN_VETERAN 35-44    
    74    12 George Van Worth       27    0:09:50.83  6/6  BEGINNER_MEN_SENIOR 19-34     
    75   100 Participant Unkown     55   12:50:47.81  1/1  BEGINNER_MEN_MASTER 45+       

Magura MT8 Disc Brake Review

The Magura MT8 brakes are some of the lighest brakes on the market. They're claimed weight sounds right we had the 203mm rotors and the brakes were 348gms with rotor. They are very sleek looking and the Cabotecture as a material was designed to save weight while still being stiff. It was apparent when lifting the brakes they succeded in the weight department. They are supe light. The brakes mounted with ease and broke in very fast with 3-4 runs they were bedded in.

The brakes only off lever pull adjustment no engagement point which on a brake this expensive is a big negative. In fact it is really the only negative with the brakes. They modulate very well and had plenty of power. They feely a bit like Avid brakes somehwat spongy with increasing power as the lever is pulled into the bars.

Magura MT8 Brake Test

Banshee Legend MKII Review

Banshee has been making bikes for about nine years now. They started off building hardtail and heavy steep angled North Shore skinny bikes. They began to develop a bigger range in bike throughout the years and began branching more into the cross country and all mountain segments.

In about 2005-2006 Banshee hooked up with Keith Scott who was working on his Master's Thesis. What he outlined for that paper would come to be know as The Banshee Legend. This bike was put into testing for about 4 years. Over 70 frames were handed out around the world and the bikes where ridden hard and put away wet.

After gathering all the riders input and fine tuning the design and making alterations it was ready for production. The Banshee Legend MKII was released to the public in 2009. It was low, slack, light and ate up rough terrain just what the general downhill population had been asking for.

Going over the various suspension designs that could be used to build Banshee's first World Cup level race frame they decided to go with a slightly altered VPP design. This would give the benefits of less pedal bob from chain stretch along with still having a fairly active suspension system. Check out Keith's Thesis at the bottom of the page to learn more about The Banshee Legend MKII design process.

2010 Banshee Legend MKII Build

• Frame Banshee Legend MK II Large
• Fork Manitou Dorado Pro
• Rear Der. Shimano M810 GS Saint
• Shifters Shimano SLX
• Crankset Shimano Saint 165mm 36 Tooth
• BB Shimano
• Chainguide E Thirteen LG-1
• Cassette SRAM PG 970 11-26
• Chain SRAM PC 951 9sp
• Brakes Formula K24 ORO
• Brake Levers Formula
• Bars Easton Havoc Low 31.8
• Stem Twenty 6 F1 Stem
• Cane Creek Angleset
• Pedals Twenty Six Prerunners
• Seatpost Thomson Elite
• Saddle WTB Devo carbon Team
• Wheels WTB Laserdisc DH 20mm F and 12mm by 150mm rear.
• Tires WTB Dissent DH F/R Kenda DH tubes

Complete Banshee Legend MK II Test Here

Plattekill Bike Park Presents The Third Annual Pro GRT Fox Racing Shox Gravity Open

Plattekill Bike Park is proud to present the Third Annual Pro GRT Fox Racing Shox Gravity Open. This year the Fox Racing Shox Gravity Open moves to Memorial Day weekend, May 24-28, 2012. The race will be the third stop of the USA Cycling ProGRT National Series and will offer double series points in the POC Eastern States Cup Regional Championship Series. The ProGRT is the most prestigious downhill mountain bike racing series in North America. The POC Eastern States Cup is the richest, largest and fastest growing series in the nation. This combination event is aimed at riders and racers of all abilities.

Top domestic and international professional riders including many World Cup stars will be competing at Plattekill to test their skills on one of the best downhill mountain bike courses in the United States. This year Plattekill is featuring a classic track on the steep North Face side of the bike park. The course has steep chutes, berms and some big gap jumps at the finish.

Plattekill doubled the Pro GRT Purse and is offering a $5000 pro purse and some great prizes for amateurs. The race is a USAC qualifier for selection to the World Championship Team, so the pros will be really going for the win. Practice will open Thursday, qualifying is on Saturday and the race will be held on Sunday. Plattekill Bike Park will remain open thru Monday and will be open for freeriding every day of the event. Plattekill will run two lifts for complete access to their trail system.

Since 1974, FOX RACING SHOX has been the industry leader in the design and development of the highest performance shock absorbers and racing suspension products for snowmobiles, mountain bikes, motorcycles, ATVs and off-road cars and trucks.

The POC Eastern States Cup was founded in 2010 as a USA Cycling Eastern Regional Championship Series and featured two USA Cycling State Championships. This proved to be a popular formula with racers and venues. In 2011 the series grew, offering the USAC Regional and three state championships. The 2012 POC Eastern States Cup will feature 5 USAC State Championships and the Eastern Regional Championship at 8 great venues. 2012 and the future indeed look bright for the series and the racers in the East.

Plattekill is located in Roxbury, NY. The bike park has been hosting downhill mountain bike racing since 1993. The trails are endless and offer something for riders of all abilities. The fall line trail sections are quite steep and the natural terrain offers loose shale with large rock drops. Plattekill Bike Park uses two lifts accessing two distinct peak areas. Lift attendants place your bikes on the chair for the ride up. The base lodge offers a cafeteria, bike shop and restrooms. On the deck great burgers and refreshments will be available. Plattekill will be open Thursday thru Monday for riding and practicing.

Race Fee’s:

• $65 Cat1(expert) and Cat2(sport) and Cat3(beginner)    
• $95 USAC Pro         
• All Race Fees Include Saturday AND Sunday Lift Tickets!!!
• Thurs, Fri and Mon Lift Tickets are $20 per day with race entry.
• ($15 discount from our regular tickets)

Schedule:

• Registration: 9-4 Friday – Saturday and 8- 9 Sunday
•  
• Double Chair Practice and Freeriding DH  10-4 Thursday - Friday,  8-4 Saturday, 8-11 Sunday
•  
• Triple Chair open 10-4 Saturday and Sunday

Saturday Seeding Run DH

Pro and Cat 1 Juniors 4:00pm

Sunday Race DH

Cat2-3                12:00pm

Cat1                    1:30 pm

Pro                      2:30 pm

Pit Fee’s: 10x10=$100     20x10=200     20x20=$300     20x40= $400  

Reserve spaces early. No e-z ups/tents will be allowed in the top two lots without reserved pit space, NO exceptions. The Reserved pit area will be patrolled throughout the event.

Camping: The third lot will feature primitive camping. Camping will cost $10 per night for a 12x20 space including your vehicle. Porta poties will be available. Water will be available in the Base Lodge.

No Electric will be available. Generators are allowed until 10pm.

Special Parking restrictions will be enforced

Pre Registration, Lodging and more info: links can be found on our site www.plattekill.com

2013 Shimano Saint And Zee Groups Announced

Shimano introduces Zee, a new line of gravity components that are an ideal starting point for aggressive riders and racers. Zee is the gateway gravity component line that allows riders to get on board with Shimano’s gravity program and experience premium new component technologies at a price they can afford. Highlights in the Zee line include a 10-speed system that comes standard with new ICE Tech and Shadow Plus technologies.

Zee Shadow Plus RD

The Zee RD-M640 features Shadow Plus technology proven to reduce chain slap, drop and impact noise and the 10-speed short cage RD’s low profile tucks safely below the cassette cogs. With two spec options that enable a typical MTB cassette (11-32,11-34,11-36) or a close ratio road cassette (11-23,11-25,11-28), Zee is ready to handle the needs of enduro and DH racers. 10-speed also offers complete compatibility with Dyna-Sys MTB product and Shimano’s latest chain and cassette technology.

 

New Gravity 10-Speed Shifter

The new Zee shifter uses Dyna-Sys compatible cable stroke, which means linear shift effort, easy set-up and accurate, stable gear changes. All new paddle shapes with 2-Way release and dimpled main lever allow riders to be more in control and perfectly engaged.

Powerful 4-Piston Disc Brakes With ICE Tech

New Zee hydraulic disc brake systems are gravity rated with a Servo-Wave brake lever and new 4-piston ceramic disc brake caliper. System stiffness is tuned using Shimano’s high-power hose and shorter lever blade while ergonomics are perfected with a new pivot location and dimpled surface. ICE Tech brake pad and rotor options reduce heat in the system and maintain performance on the longest descents.

Durable, Reinforced Crank Set

The thick wall aluminum construction on the Zee twopiece cranks and reinforced steel axle translate to additional confidence on the trail. With an axle 30% stronger than comparable trail cranks and smooth running, accurately aligned chain wheels, the Zee crank will perform reliably - run after run. The crank arm features outboard bearings and steel pedal inserts. Options include single ring 34T/36T/38T; FC-M640 68/73mm BB and FC-M645 83mm BB. Pressfit compatible.

New Durable And Reliable Hubsets

Quick engaging, smooth running hubs are a big advantage on the mountain. The new Zee hubs include quality sealing, adjustable angular contact bearings, and rotate on extra stiff, one piece rear axles with integrated cone construction. Zee hubs are ready for any modern gravity bike with 20mm axles up front and 12mm axles in 135, 142 and 150mm configurations.

The original dedicated gravity component line is more focused, more advanced and more
dedicated to speed than ever with the new M820 group for 2013. The now 10-speed Saint M820
group embraces Shimano’s latest technology and debuts all-new advancements in both heat
control and drivetrain stability. With new ICE Technologies and Saint’s take on the Shadow Plus
rear derailleur, the M820 group promises riders a pure riding experience and the gift of focus
through seamless and stable bike control.

The New Standard In DH Rear Derailleurs

New chain control and silencing technologies in the new RD-M820 are a game changer for gravity riding. In addition to the proven Shadow Plus RD design, a Saint specific, high durometer urethane bump stopper (between the RD and the dropout) was added to reduce impact noise. Now 10-speed, the new RD-M820 features a durable super wide link that serves as the backbone of the DH parallelogram. Ready for track and trail, the mode converter easily adapts between two settings for MTB cassette gear ratios (11-32, 11-34, 11-36) and road (11-23, 11-25, 11-28).

ICE Technologies Even More Advanced

The new Saint disc brake embraces Shimano ICE Technology and advances it, reducing heat and improving performance through multiple combined features. In addition to finned brake pads, self insulating ceramic pistons and three layer rotor construction, new M820 disc brake systems will also see the introduction of a 30mm aluminum banjo fitting and an innovative finned rotor, that reduce operating temperatures by increasing the convective surface area. The new SM-RT99 Ultimate Clad rotor is a significant performance enhancement reducing heat by 50 degrees, creating 20% more stopping power, eliminating brake fade and increasing pad life. A new, longer 30mm banjo fitting extending from the caliper further reduces heat at a critical location where oil transitions from hose to caliper. Saint shares the excellent ergonomics and system stiffness found on Zee brake systems and is also ISPEC compatible.

Improved Shifter Ergonomics, Easier Shifts

Advanced DH ergonomics including longer levers (+5mm) and textured paddles combine with low friction ball bearings to reduce shifting effort on this gravity specific shifter. Designed specifically for Shadow Plus and Vivid indexing, these shifting enhancements reduce base shifting effort by up to 37%, so that on-trail shift effort is as light as ever. Instant, effortless shifts create a whole new paradigm for the most durable, gravity-ready drivetrain on the market. Premium
functions include instant release, multi release and 2-Way release. An I-SPEC bracket option will be available to reduce weight and handlebar clutter.

Reliable DH Race Cranks

New Saint Hollowtech II cranks are hollow forged Duraluminum, creating a lighter weight crank set with an axle that is 250% stronger than trail options and an arm that is double strength. The single-only setup looks great with custom aluminum hardware and is available in three lightweight chainring options (34T/36T/38T) and in two crank sets: FC-M820 (68/73mm BB) and FC-M825 (83mm BB) that both offer Presfit BB compatibility. A steel pedal insert adds durability at the pedal interface. Note: MTB Press fit BB: SM-BB71-41A (50mm chainline; 89.5x41 BB shell), DH Press fit BB: SM-BB71-41C (58mm chainline; 104.5x41 BB shell)

New Saint Hubsets

New Saint hubs are lighter and easier to adjust. All weather rated with top quality sealing, adjustable angular contact bearings, and precision ground, integrated cone construction, these hubs track straight and roll true. Centerlock mounting for alignment and braking efficiency, Saint hubs are available with 20mm axles up front and 12mm axles in 135, 142 and 150mm configurations.

New Wider, Lower Profile Saint Flat Pedals

After years of success, the crowd favorite DX flat pedals are succeeded by new PD-MX80 Saint-branded pedals that feature a wider (+3mm), lower profile (-8.5mm) platform with an easy replacement pin system. Adapted to modern riding, the PD-MX80 retains the durable, smooth rotating axle and concave ergonomic platform that made the MX30 a legend.